Odoro Nkit Traditional Ruler Clarifies His Presence, Reaffirms Vote of Confidence on EMOIMEE Leadership
The traditional ruler of Odoro Nkit and Chairman of the Conference of Village Heads in Esit Eket LGA, His Royal Highness Obong Sunday Samuel Ekpo, has publicly dissociated himself from the purported stakeholders’ meeting held on 9th May 2026 that called for accountability in Esit Eket EMOIMEE HCDT.
Speaking on the matter, the revered monarch said:
“I have heard repeatedly from different sources that I was among those who went to the Paramount Ruler’s palace on 9th May 2026 to join other persons to demand accountability in Esit Eket EMOIMEE HCDT. In actuality, I was among the traditional rulers who joined the Paramount Ruler to sign a letter conferring a vote of confidence on Sir Hon. Barr. Bassey Dan Abia, Board of Trustees member representing Esit Eket; Engr. Imaobong Inyang, Project Manager; Engr. Emmanuel Akpekong, member of the management committee; and Mr. Unwana Evans, member of the advisory committee.”
He explained that himself, the Paramount Ruler, the Clan Head of Ekid Offiong, and other critical stakeholders of Esit Eket “saw the need to pass a vote of confidence on them, having witnessed their sterling representation and delivery of the dividends of our oil deposit to the people.”
On how he appeared in pictures from the 9th May meeting, the royal father clarified:
“I was in my palace when the Paramount Ruler sent the Chairman of my Village Council, Mr. Isaac Sunday Charlie, to Mr. Nsikan Okon Aweh to invite me to his palace for something very urgent. As a high-ranking traditional ruler in Esit Eket, I decided to respond to the call. When I arrived at the palace, I did not see the Clan Head, who is the second in command, and I asked the Paramount Ruler why he was not invited. He told me that he had sent the Clan Head to represent him in Uyo. I also asked about the whereabouts of other certificated Village Heads, but he said they were coming. By that time, the meeting had already started. I asked him what the purpose of the meeting was, but he did not say it immediately; he asked me to wait. When the meeting started, they were taking pictures of people in the palace talking about EMOIMEE HCDT activities in Esit Eket.”
The royal father questioned the contradiction in the narrative:
“How can we pass a vote of confidence on the EMOIMEE HCDT team and still go on to say that the same team hasn’t done anything in Esit Eket? Why should traditional rulers not be able to maintain their integrity when it comes to matters that concern the overriding interest of the people?”
He reminded the public of earlier endorsements:
“Last year, on 5th January 2025, we gave full assent to the 2025 EMOIMEE HCDT budget. Was this not due to consistent engagement with the community? How did we get to this point where we begin to allow politicians to take over traditional institutions and render them with no respect or regard?”
The monarch stressed that the impact of EMOIMEE HCDT is visible across Esit Eket:
“Here in my community, my children and my community members are direct beneficiaries of EMOIMEE. There is no community in Esit Eket that has not felt the impact of EMOIMEE HCDT, whether through scholarships, transport palliatives, infrastructure, advanced manpower training, ICT training, Agric training with one million naira startup grant, and the rest. Is this not enough accountability? Is allowing politicians to hijack EMOIMEE the accountability that we so yearn for?”
He concluded by dismissing the legitimacy of the 9th May gathering:
“For those who misconstrue my presence at that meeting, I deliberately sat down to listen, thinking it would be something important, not knowing it was born out of hatred and political calculations to hijack EMOIMEE HCDT, which is not possible. For the record, that meeting was not a Traditional Rulers Council meeting, because the composition of the meeting was not in line with the Traditional Rulers Edict of Akwa Ibom State, 2004, 2008, and 2023 as amended.”
The royal father affirmed:
“I am strongly in support of Sir Dan Abia-led Esit Eket EMOIMEE HCDT, which has been able to attract meaningful development to Esit Eket.”